Page 102 of Silk Sheets

I turned, noticing Chase had stopped walking. Amusement was written all overJosie’sface as she approached us. She walked with a limp and a crutch in one hand.

She was fairly taller than me with a luscious curly afro, and was covered in gold jewellery. Her dress was skin tight, stopping at her ankles where the tips of her pointed heels were visible.

I looked up at Chase—they must know each other—but my heart sank as I watchedhim, watchher.

He didn’t speak.

“It’s okay, Chase, you can speak,” she humorously chuckled, standing in front of both of us—leaning her weight onto her crutch. “Oh, I forgot. Giving commands is your job,” she teased, and a small smile grew across his face.

“Josie,” he finally said, and nausea gripped my throat, a knot forming in my stomach.That’s how he always says my name…

“No hug?” she playfully pouted, and I noticed the reaction his eyes had. Like he wanted to. But, he resisted. It seemed as though he used every bit of strength he had to not wrap his arms around her.

“As requested,” Logan humorously said, approaching us. “Never send me there with Kaden again,” he shook his head, handing me the coffee, and Kaden simply scowled.

Josie’seyes fell on me for the first time in confusion before she turned, looking up at Logan and Kaden. Her eyes grew wide in excitement, and for the first time since I met him, a smile found its way to Kaden’s lips.

Without hesitation, she stepped closer, wrapping her arms around him and chuckled, holding onto him. “Kaden!” she squealed in excitement. “Oh, I missed you.”

That was the final straw, because that…hurt.

TWENTY-FIVE

DAKOTA

I don’t even want to fucking know.

After irritably leaving the guys behind in the store withJosie, I sipped my coffee with an eerie pain brewing in my chest.

I’d never seen or heard about her. I didn’t know who she was… but based on the guy’s reaction, I had a pretty good idea of what they once were…

I hurried away and quickly slipped into a random store, trying to distract myself, but when that didn’t work, I texted Logan that I’d see them back at the house.

* * *

I dropped everything on my bed and changed into some comfortable sweatpants and a little tank top. I kept my socks on for warmth and made my way downstairs with my gigantic teddy bear, stealing a tub of ice cream before plopping down in the living room.

I turned on the TV and scrolled through it until I foundGeordie Shore.

I stuffed my face with ice cream as yet another distraction, but as expected, it didn’t work. I kept thinking about the wayChase said her name, Kaden smiling at her, and the way Logan looked at her…

I swallowed a lump in my throat, feeling my eyes sting with tears. I blinked them away, taking a deep breath in as I lifted the ice cream to my lips.

I stared at it, then dropped my spoon into the tub, having no interest in it anymore.

And the worst part is that she was beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous, and not just physically, but her energy seemed magnetic.

The front door opened, and I heard their footsteps in the foyer. Out of my peripheral vision, I saw them enter, but I didn’t cast them a glance. I simply kept my eyes on the TV.Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry.

Kaden spoke first. “Dakota.”

“Kaden,” I said, having a spoon full of ice cream.

“We need to talk. Turn off the TV.”

“Talk about what?” I asked, making no effort to turn the TV off.

“Now, Dakota.” The edge in his voice made my spine straighten, so after careful consideration, I turned off the TV.Dammit.